| Back in 1895, German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen | | | | classroom and clinical instruction in anatomy, medical |
| invented X-ray technology by mistake. Now, over 100 | | | | ethics, medical terminology, pathology, patient care |
| years later, you can use his accident to your career | | | | procedures, physiology, positioning of patients, principles |
| advantage by enrolling at an X-ray technician school. | | | | of imaging, radiation physics, radiation protection, and |
| The right wavelength | | | | radiobiology. |
| An X-ray technician, or radiographer, produces X-ray | | | | Upon graduation from an accredited X-ray technician |
| films of parts of the body and administers | | | | program, you may take a certification exam offered |
| nonradioactive materials into the bloodstream for | | | | by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. |
| diagnostic purposes. The X-ray technician is also | | | | In 2005, 38 states certified X-ray technicians. To be |
| responsible for preparing patients and their records, | | | | recertified, or registered, you must complete 24 hours |
| and adjusting, maintaining, and operating equipment. | | | | of continuing education every two years. |
| Within the field, X-ray technicians may specialize in | | | | An inside look |
| complex diagnostic imaging technologies, such as | | | | Those with X-ray technician training held about 182,000 |
| computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic | | | | jobs in 2004, more than half of which were in hospitals. |
| resonance imaging (MRI). CT technologists operate CT | | | | And employment is expected to grow faster than the |
| scanners to produce cross-sectional images of | | | | average for all occupations through 2014, as the |
| patients. MRI technologists operate machines that use | | | | population grows and ages, increasing the demand for |
| strong magnets and radio waves, rather than radiation, | | | | diagnostic imaging. Median annual earnings of |
| to create an image. | | | | graduates of X-ray technician schools were $43,350 in |
| Higher energy | | | | May 2004, with the highest 10 percent earning more |
| Formal X-ray technician training ranges from one to | | | | than $60,210. Those who are experienced in more |
| four years and leads to a certificate, associate degree, | | | | complex diagnostic imaging procedures, such as CT |
| or bachelor's degree. The Joint Review Committee on | | | | and MRI, will have better employment opportunities. |
| Education in Radiologic Technology accredited 606 | | | | Why wait? Get a glimpse of your future by enrolling in |
| radiography programs in 2005. The programs offer | | | | an X-ray technician program today. |